LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 12/29/12 -- If you're considering a trip to Lapland, you're probably going to be prepared for chilly temperatures. This Arctic retreat, fabled to be Father Christmas' Nordic home, is renowned for its snow-covered pine forests and frozen fjords - so why not fully embrace the winter wonderland spirit and go that extra mile by staying in an ice hotel?

Work on building this winter's new Ice Hotel has already begun in the picturesque village of Jukkasjarvi in Swedish Lapland and is due for completion by mid-December. And to celebrate the Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) reaching the peak of its 11-year cycle this year, the frozen hotel has been fitted with 10 extra rooms to provide even more guests with the opportunity to witness the spectacular natural light phenomenon.

The Ice Hotel's artistic director Arne Bergh said: "This year we wanted to highlight the Aurora Borealis and the idea we came up with was to create our very own Northern Lights Suites."

The suites will each feature a stunning 'swipe' of LED lighting aimed at encapsulating the spectacular natural light display so that guests can enjoy the magic from the comfort of their illuminated ice beds.

Ice Hotel is constructed every winter using layers of 'snice' - a mixture of snow and ice, which features the insulating properties of snow and is both lighter than ice and stronger than snow. Each year the mixture is sprayed over arch-shaped frames and left to set until they are solid enough for the moulds to be removed and reveal a stunning ice hotel.

The hotel provides an ideal base from which to enjoy all the tourist attractions of the frozen north, including husky rides, snowmobile excursions and cross-country skiing adventures. Lapland is particularly popular in the lead-up to Christmas, when young children are invited to meet Santa Claus during the many festive packages provided by local tour operators. Children can enrol in Elf School, visit the magical Ice Gallery or travel to Rovaniemi's Santa Park, which boasts a magnificent underground grotto where Santa and his elves spend their time busily making toys.

For an all-inclusive holiday experience, with top-quality accommodation and access to fantastic attractions and day trips included, cheap holidays to Lapland start from just GBP 413 per person with Cosmos, departing from London Gatwick and Manchester airports. To find out more about these deals and all inclusive holidays to many other fantastic destinations worldwide, visit www.cosmos.co.uk.

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